Practice incentives - yay or nay?

When it comes to learning a musical instrument, one of the biggest challenges families face is encouraging consistent practice. Squeezing music into busy schedules can be tough—and even when time is set aside, kids don’t always feel like doing it. That’s where the idea of practice incentives comes in.

But are rewards like stickers, chocolates, and screen time helpful motivators? Or could they do more harm than good in the long run?

Let’s unpack it.

What Are Practice Incentives?

Practice incentives are rewards used to encourage students to practise regularly. These can include:

• Stickers or small toys

• Lollies or treats

• Extra screen time or video game time

• Earning points toward a prize or certificate

• Getting to choose the next piece to learn

At Music Makers Academy, for example, students use a practice diary to rate their practice out of four stars each week. The more quality practice they do, the more points they earn—and after a certain number of points, they can choose a small prize. The rewards improve as they continue, giving students a fun way to stay motivated.

When Practice Incentives Can Help

From a teacher’s perspective, the effectiveness of incentives depends on the student.

• Some children are self-motivated and enjoy playing enough to practise without any extra encouragement.

• Others thrive on the excitement of working toward a prize or goal.

• For students in a slump, a reward can give them that little push they need to get back into the habit.

Incentives can be especially helpful:

• At the beginning of lessons, while students are building a routine

• After school holidays or breaks, when practice habits might have slipped

• When students are feeling discouraged or unmotivated

When Incentives Might Backfire

While rewards can work well short-term, they can also lead to some problems if overused:

• Loss of internal motivation: If students only practise to earn a prize, they may miss the point of learning music and lose interest once the prize is gone.

• Decreased self-direction: Students may rely on external rewards and struggle to practise without them.

• Focus shift: Instead of aiming for musical growth, they may focus only on compliance and getting the prize.

The key is to strike a balance—use incentives as a tool to build good habits, not as the only reason to practise.

Rewarding Effort vs. Results

An important tip: always reward effort and consistency, not just results.

If a child practises every day but is still struggling to master a piece, they’ve still shown dedication—and that effort deserves to be acknowledged.

Focusing only on the final result can send the wrong message. It’s more important to build a love for learning and progress, rather than perfect performance.

Ideas for Practice Incentives by Age

For younger children:

• Sticker charts

• Small toys or fidget prizes after 10–15 sessions

• Choosing a favourite song to learn

• Home concerts for family or friends

For tweens and teens:

• Extra screen time or gaming minutes

• Practice passes (e.g., earn a day off with consistent effort)

• Making a playlist or TikTok video of their own performance

• Earning the right to choose their next song or project

Again, the goal is to help kids feel proud of their progress and effort—not to bribe them into playing.

What If You Don’t Like the Idea of Incentives?

That’s okay too! If you’d prefer not to use rewards, here are other strategies to help support your child’s practice routine:

• Make practice a non-negotiable part of the daily schedule. Keep it consistent and ideally at the same time each day.

• Be present during practice. Sit nearby, ask questions, notice improvements, and celebrate small wins.

• Use performance opportunities. Whether it’s a concert, recital, or mini home performance for friends, these can naturally encourage preparation and practice.

• Set goals together. Weekly or monthly goals can give your child a clear sense of purpose and progress.

And remember: your attention and encouragement are often the most powerful motivators.

Final Thoughts

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to practice incentives. Some kids thrive with rewards, others don’t need them at all. You know your child best—try different approaches and see what works.

Just be mindful not to let the reward become the focus. The heart of music education lies in joy, expression, and growth. Let’s help our children find that joy while building good habits along the way.

🎧 Listen to the full Raising Musos episode on this topic on YouTube.

📩 Send us a message on Instagram @musicmakersacademy or reach out via email to book your spot.

Until next time — keep raising musos,
Eliza 🎶